i have a home care pt that i've been seeing for quite a while now, and she and her husband are really sweet. she has mild dementia...remembers me in between visits but doesn't remember my name, etc. she often asks me repetitive questions or tells me something she's already told me several times...you know how it goes.
today she asked me if the "forgetting" is normal for people getting older. with her husband's permission i told her that she was suspected to have early alzheimer's. her face got sad and she asked me if she would get better. i told her that one of her meds would slow down the progress but she would get worse, not better. i literally saw the light go out of her eyes and she very quietly said "oh."
i know that she won't remember the conversation the next time i see her, but it was so sad to see the realization in her face.
Let me say that anyone with any diagnosis has the right to know what is going on with their mind and body. If my mom asks and if i have to tell her 300 times a day then that is what I do. I know she is going to forget and I know I am going to have to explain as simply as I can what is happening. Sometimes when she is really confused I have to do some strange things but it's ok. For example, I grew up on a farm. We had animals of all kinds. One day mom woke up in a fuss so I went to her room to find her standing on her bed saying "Shoo shoo." So I logically looked around to see if one of my birds managed to get into her room, this wasn't the case. She said "Sis (me), how'd those chickens get in the house?" My first instinct was to inform her that the only chickens we had were in the fridge, but one has to remember this is a disease of the mind. So I scooped up a magazine and began hooting and hollering and "Shooing" those chickens out from moms room. Did I look and sound completely ridiculous, of course. Did it matter, no. Nothing I could have said or done would have convinced that little women nothing was there. So, you go along, play along until things are calm. She sat on her bed and giggled a bit and began to tell me how my dad (Who passed 17 years ago) must have done that to make her laugh. I agreed with her that dad was being his regular old self. She smiled and was content. If you don't have someone in your life with this disease or care for someone on a daily basis it's hard to imagine where they go. As quickly as mom had started this, when it was over she was hungry and walked with me to the kitchen like nothing had happened. So, you do what you have to to make them comfortable. Even if it means chasing invisible chickens......
What I have done for Mama is write a series of short essays about how she met Daddy. About each of us girls, all the pets I can remember, about her parents coming over on the boats. About her high school girl friends. About her living with Daddy's parents during WWII. About one of my sibs throwing the fork at the other and leaving her a tattooed eyebrow. Whenever I think of something, I write it down and take it over and put it in her book. She can find the correct page and seems to get a kick out of reading "the story of her life."
.
This is an excellent idea. We had a pt. with a poor prognosis and while his mind was still fairly intact, our social worker went in frequently to visit.
She brought in a mini tape recorder and had him talk about his life, family, events, stories, etc. Something for his family to remember him by.
I only wish that I had something like this of my father's.
Just an idea I thought might be worth sharing for anyone, personally or professionally.
the turmeric and ibuprofen sound more preventative than reversible.
but still, food for thought, as it seems to prevent other notable comorbidities.
leslie
Yes. There might be things we can to to prevent, delay it's onset, or to keep symptoms in a milder form, but nothing cures or reverses Alz. not diet, exercise, herbology, alternative or modern medicine. It's a dreadful and sad disease.
People are wondering why Asian Indians have the lowest rate of Alz. in the world and they are thinking it's the tumeric they eat almost daily in their curries. There's an ingredient in tumeric that is anti-inflammatory.
I also wonder how much of this protection is due to tumeric in particular, and how much is due to a lack of exposure to the chemicals we're bombarded with in processed foods.
. So, you do what you have to to make them comfortable. Even if it means chasing invisible chickens......
...one of the most heart wrenching things ive read in ages. nurz2be..a medal isnt enough for you girl, you are awesome! Big cuddles to you and your dear wee mammy.xc
...one of the most heart wrenching things ive read in ages. nurz2be..a medal isnt enough for you girl, you are awesome! Big cuddles to you and your dear wee mammy.xc
nurz2be
847 Posts
Let me say that anyone with any diagnosis has the right to know what is going on with their mind and body. If my mom asks and if i have to tell her 300 times a day then that is what I do. I know she is going to forget and I know I am going to have to explain as simply as I can what is happening. Sometimes when she is really confused I have to do some strange things but it's ok. For example, I grew up on a farm. We had animals of all kinds. One day mom woke up in a fuss so I went to her room to find her standing on her bed saying "Shoo shoo." So I logically looked around to see if one of my birds managed to get into her room, this wasn't the case. She said "Sis (me), how'd those chickens get in the house?" My first instinct was to inform her that the only chickens we had were in the fridge, but one has to remember this is a disease of the mind. So I scooped up a magazine and began hooting and hollering and "Shooing" those chickens out from moms room. Did I look and sound completely ridiculous, of course. Did it matter, no. Nothing I could have said or done would have convinced that little women nothing was there. So, you go along, play along until things are calm. She sat on her bed and giggled a bit and began to tell me how my dad (Who passed 17 years ago) must have done that to make her laugh. I agreed with her that dad was being his regular old self. She smiled and was content. If you don't have someone in your life with this disease or care for someone on a daily basis it's hard to imagine where they go. As quickly as mom had started this, when it was over she was hungry and walked with me to the kitchen like nothing had happened. So, you do what you have to to make them comfortable. Even if it means chasing invisible chickens......